Hanging Out at Panera

When I lived in Monterey, the closest Panera was about 45 minutes away. I ate there a few times, when traveling to and from the San Jose airport...but that was about it. So, imagine my relief and excitement when I realized that there is one just 5 minutes down the road from where I'm living now!! I love Panera...not only because of the food (which is amazeballs),

 Broccoli cheddar soup, strawberry poppy-seed salad (no chicken) & iced green tea

...but also because they have FREE wi-fi (it can't get any better than that) and I just really enjoy the atmosphere. For the most part, it's quiet and relaxing...I used to get a lot of studying and work down on my afternoons at Panera during graduate school. Currently, I'm indulging in my latest read:

Operation Beautiful...a book that stemmed from an epidemic (that I just found out about recently). Operation Beautiful is transforming the way that people see themselves one post-it note at a time! It sounds so simple, but has really caught the eye of many, many people. Basically, all you do is write a note (something as simple as "you are beautiful just the way you are") on a post-it and leave it somewhere (a public bathroom mirror, a fitness center scale). I just think that it's such a great idea and so simple! You can read on the website and in the book how much it has changed so many people's lives. :) All you need is a pad of paper and a pen. Check out more here!

Hope everyone has a lovely rest of the weekend!

Apartment Painting: Sneak Peek

So, I don't want to post pics of the painted apartment until it's all finished...and maybe once there's some furniture in it! :) But, I will give you a little sneak peek at the colors that I chose:

I love the names too :)

And then, here's the pups enjoying the new place...

The little one's Harley (probably looking out the window getting ready to bark at someone), and then there's Rider wagging his tail

Although I miss the beach and so many things/people in Monterey...I am really loving being back in the Midwest!! The movers should be delivering our things this week...yay!!! I can't wait :)

I'll Miss You Monterey...

Since I just left Monterey, I figured I'd do a post about all of the great things to do, place to see, and good eats in that area...just in case any of my readers ever take a little visit here. It is definitely a great place to vacation...plus it can always be a stopping point as you're driving along the California coast. Napa is just a few hours North and L.A./San Diego is 5-7 hours south. And from what I've heard from friends, the drive along the coast (CA-1 South) is gorgeous...so many beaches and cliffs to stop and take pictures at, just enjoying the view of the ocean.

Anyway, living there for about a year and a half now, I feel like I've gotten to experience a lot of different foods, places and activities...so here are my reviews:

Breakfast:

• Lou Lou's (on the Wharf)
• BEST place to go for breakfast (they serve lunch too)...this became my usual Sunday hangout. The waitress literally knows my order by heart, basically because I always ordered the same thing! :) It's a really small place (a little yellow building on the Municipal Wharf #2) and is almost always busy. They also cook the food to order, so you definitely have to be willing to sit down and wait a bit. But, oh boy, is it worth it! They have HUGE, and I mean HUGE pancakes...the size of a normal-sized plate, and I'm NOT exaggerating! And they serve most of their breakfast meals with these potatoes...so scrumptious, they're basically just potatoes but spiced up and topped with tomatoes, grilled onions, basil and some fresh cheese...YUMMY! I always get their "create your own omelet"...mushroom and cheddar all the way!
• I have tried their lunch too...also delicious. I ordered the tuna sandwich with 1/2 fries, 1/2 salad. The hubby ordered the calamari. Both were great!!
• Rosine's (Downtown Monterey)
• We had some friends visiting in town for Thanksgiving and we brought them here for breakfast...also a great place. Very welcoming, but also very busy normally. Other than breakfast, they serve lunch and dinner...and they are FAMOUS in Monterey for their deserts. They make these HUGE cakes and serve them by the slice. I can almost never finish an entire slice...splitting a slice is more like it! :)

Vietnamese:

• Noodle Bar (Seaside)
• A friend that I used to work with introduced me to this place and boy, was it a pleasant surprise. It's a TINY place, even tinier than Lou Lou's (mentioned above)...and if you're driving along, you can actually miss it. The only place to sit is at a counter and it only holds about 10-12 bar stools (downside), but the food is totally worth it! Imagine a bowl layered with noodles, fresh lettuce, chopped peanuts, mint, veggie (and before I became a vegetarian, I used to get the BBQ pork)...omg, it is amazing!

Italian:

• Favalaro's Big Night Bistro (PG)
• The hubby found this place...and for us it was great, because it was very close to our favorite movie theater in PG. To be honest, it's kind of hard to find a good Italian restaurant in Monterey...not sure why...but this one takes the cake! Excellent gnocci, ravioli, salad...their sauces are amazeballs!! Oh, and they usually have this special appetizer (which the husband always devoured)...it as fried avocados...like whole ones, deep fried in panko crumbs!! Mmmmmm! It is family owned, and the wait staff are so nice, love this place!

Hawaiian:

• Hula's Island Grill
• Man, I love this place...it's the place to go for the best sweet-potato fries, and they just put a fun Hawaiian spin on all of their foods. The decor is very "tiki-hut"! Fish tacos are a specialty and wasabi mashed potatoes, YES PLEASE!!

Mexican:

• Jose's (Two locations, in Seaside and on Cannery Row)
• My favorite mexican restaurant in Monterey
• Lopez Mexican Restaurant (Downtown Monterey)
• Pepper's MexiCali Cafe (PG)
• This was the first place that Cody and I ever at at in Monterey. He was already living on base here, I drove his car from IL to CA (yes, I did...it was a LONG trip) and came to visit two February's ago. While visiting, we were checking out apartments and obtaining our marriage license...and we completely forgot that it was Valentines Day! ;) One of the housing agents was so sweet...he called this restaurant nearby (Pepper's) and made us a reservation. We got there and immediately fell in LOVE with it!! Best salsa, BEST corn chowder (omg, if you go here, you have to prmise me you will get some), and amazing food (my fav's: swordfish tacos, salmon tacos, and roasted red peper mahi mahi tacos)! I will miss this place SO much!!

Fish 'n Chips:

• London Bridge Pub (on the Wharf)
• Seriously...best fish and chips, hands down! Great view of the marina too
• Phil's Fish Market (Moss Landing) 
• Bobby Flay did a throw down here with Phil, making his cioppino...great food, freshest seafood, and there's a beach right behind it with a gorgeous view!

Nightlife:

• London Bridge Pub 
• The Bulldog (Downtown Monterey)
• Crown 'n Anchor (Downtown Monterey)
• The Brit (Downtown Monterey)

Burgers/Sandwiches:

• Islands (Del Monte mall Shopping Center in Monterey)
• Nepenthe (Big Sur) 
• After hiking, this was such a great place to stop and eat...yummy sandwiches! And their outside patio is built on a cliff, overlooking the ocean (breathtaking!) 

Thai:

• Pacific Thai (PG)
• Thai Bisro II (PG)

 Clint Eastwood's Restaurant (Carmel)

• Mission Ranch
• I can't express enough how amazing this restaurant is...and one time I was there, I saw Clint!!! I was sitting outside on the patio and he was walking through the inside part of the restaurant. From what the workers said, he comes up to the restaurant a few times a week to check in. It is a bit pricey, but completely worth it. The patio overlooks a huge field where sheep graze and then you can see the Carmel beach/cliffs in the horizon...need I say more?!

Beaches:

• Monterey Beaches
• Marina Beach
• Carmel Beach
• Lover's Point Park & Beach

Best Things to Do in Monterey:

• Whale Watching (multiple venues on the Wharf) *Here's where we went
• My friend and I got to see Killer Whales...so cool! They pretty much can guarantee whale sighting
• Kayaking (multiple venues on the Wharf and along Cannery Row) *Here's where we went
• A must-do in Monterey...just be careful not to tip your kayak ;)
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• One of the best aquariums in the country!
• My favorite exhibit is the Seahorses, fairly new to the aquarium
• Hiking in Big Sur
• 17-mile Drive (you also get to see Pebble Beach golf course along this drive)
• Monterey Beer Fest (month of June at Monterey Fairgrounds)
• Went here two years in a row...and had such a blast!! Great selection of beers, food and music

 Well, there's all of my reviews...I'm sure there's so much I'm missing. But bottom line, Monterey is an amazing place to vacation and visit...so if you get a chance, GO! :)

Blog on Hiatus

So...sorry the blog has been on hiatus! I've been doing a little relocating...a little decorating :)

And I had some issues with setting up the internet (I swear, I always think I can set it up myself...and it never fails, I usually have to call to have someone come help me)...ridiculous!

Anyway, I have lots to post on and it will be coming soon...I promise!

Pier 1 Tasting Party

Check out this new tasting dish collection from Pier 1...

Um, I think I'm in love...this makes me want to host all kinds of parties & get-togethers!! See more here

WINE!

Holy crap...check out Slumber Design's post about this wine cellar...I am in LOVE!!

M.I.A.

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever...or at least given a substantial post worth viewing! ;) I have so many things I want to blog about (e.g. reviews on places to go/eat/see in Monterey; my friend Jenn and I sewed together an apron...yes, an apron, and I love it; and of course I'll want to blog about the road trip)...the blog just might be on hiatus for the next week or two while I get through this moving across country!! I am always a "list maker", but boy oh boy, you should see all of the lists I've been making...ridiculous!!! Hopefully it'll keep me on-task, less stressed and make things run much more smoothly.

But real quick, I just wanted to say how glad I am that I started blogging...I'm not sure my posts have been super exciting or have changed anyone's life...but it has opened up this whole new world to me. I *love* reading all of these other blogs...they are so inspiring (craftwise, foodwise, exercisewise, etc.) and everyday I take out time in the morning to read up on all of the blogs I follow. When my husband and I reunite, I'm sure he'll think I'm crazy and "blog obsessed", but it's so easy to do. Anyway, I'm just really enjoying this new place for creativity, collaboration and just pure FUN! That's all... :)

Inception

Love, love, love this graphic poster explaining the last dream sequence in Inception...so cool!

source: dehahs.deviantart.com

Weeks of Craziness

So, the big move is fast approaching...just a couple of weeks until I will be back to being in the BIG midwest! I'm actually pretty excited!! :)

I feel so lucky to have been able to live in this gorgeous place and will always want to come back for a visit! And I met some awesome people here...I am definitely starting to feel like a military spouse. It's hard making friends and then moving/leaving that place a few years later!

Also, Monterey was officially the first place that the hubby and I lived together as a married couple and it's where we started our lives together! :)

But, I am definitely ready for a CHANGE (hence, 'change is necessary for growth') and I really think that we are going to like Omaha! I've been scoping out all the good eats and fun stuff to do...it's exciting!

I'm also super excited because my mom and sister are coming out here right before I move. My sister, just for a few days...but my mom is actually going to drive with me (and the 2 pups) to Omaha and help me *paint* and buy some furniture (yeah...we barely have ANY). So, I'm super excited for them to get here!! And my mom's going to be a godsend...she's awesome at cleaning, organizing and just overall,mid being supportive! Which I'm sure I'll need...even though I'm trying my best not to get stressed out :0

Be on the lookout for a post soon on all of my favorite places to eat, things to do, and sights to see in Monterey! It's definitely an amazing place to vacation...lots of great seafood and so many things to see.

The Winner!!

Random.org has spoken...and the winner is...

#5. ASHLEY from AJ & CJ!!!!!

Congrats!! :)

Send me your address to mark.rep.kmcginnis@gmail.com and I'll get your giveaway products (plus some other goodies) to you as soon as possible!!